Rune's POV

My brother comes home from rehab today. Finally. He's been gone for what seems like years, when in reality it's been about 11 months.

I've missed him, so damn much.

I know he's been so busy at rehab and getting himself back on track, but he's still my brother and I still love and miss him when he's away.

He's been to rehab four times before, this was the fifth time. He keeps getting tempted back into doing the hardcore drugs which results in him being sent back to rehab.

Our parents don't seem to realise that they're one of the major problems that resulted in him starting drugs in the first place. Their arguments and toxicity is what make him keep going back to the drugs.

I've tried to help him many times, tried to keep him busy so he doesn't feel the urge. It's worked for a while in the past, but as soon as I've stepped back and let him look after himself, he's always gone straight back to the drugs.

Every. Single. Time.

Sometimes it's worse than others, but in the end, it's too much and my parents have to send him back to rehab.

I kind of feel bad. My parents have had both their sons attempt suicide. The thing is though, neither of them have done anything different to change themselves, knowing full well they're the reason we have done such things.

So here I am, stuck in a hospital bed, dread and excitement suffocating me more than the oxygen mask I woke up with.

***
Some hours later

The lights are flicked on and the blinding light causes me to groan in distress as four sets of footsteps enter my room.

"Rune? How do you feel?" My father asks, placing a hand on mine.

"Like I'm on the Highway to Hell." I reply, my voice thick with sleep.

My mother chuckles awkwardly from my other side.

"Hey baby bro, have you forgotten me yet?" My brother's voice fills my ears like milo fills a glass of milk.

I open my eyes properly and sit up to stare at my brother.

Kasper smiles, "hey RuRu."

"Kasper..." I whisper before launching myself into his arms.

My brother chuckles and hugs me back tightly. My heart races as I tighten my grip, hugging my big brother with all my might to show him just how much I missed him without using the words.

I notice my parents watching with small smiles from the corner of my eyes but chose to ignore it and continue to hug my brother. I stay there, hugging my brother for as long as he allows me to before I reluctantly pull away.

Kasper smiles at me and ruffles my hair, "it's good to see you too, kiddo."

I smile back and start to catch him up to speed with things that have happened in my life over the last few months, I carefully explain the non gruesome details containing Nix's passing and I explain how things have been since that day.

My brother and I talk for hours, just catching each other up on things that have happened to both of us over the last 11 months.

•••

Third Person POV

The day waned on as the two brothers talked and caught up, making their presences sturdy in each other's lives once again. Kasper talks mainly about the old times when the two brothers were younger and would play games together and about the arguments that would occur when one brother got sick of the game.

Rune talks about the more recent times, about how things have been at school and how people have treated him since Phoenix's death.

Kasper tries to get more information about his death, but once he realises how much it hurts Rune to talk about it, quickly changes the subject.

•••

Rune's POV

Finally, I'm released from the hospital with only a couple medications and a therapist's number.

My parents and my brother all walk into the house and sit on the couch and lounge chairs in the living room upon arriving. My father puts on Kasper and I's favourite childhood movie.

Then, together as a family for the first time in ages, we watch the movie and laugh at the funny parts and cry at the sad parts, together. My mother grabs the snacks and we all share them out.

Once the movie finishes, my mother puts on another movie and for the rest of the day, my family and I have a movie marathon and reminisce how things used to be when we were younger.

••••

Third Person POV

One by one the family of four fades off to sleep, until only the sounds that can be heard are those of soft breathing and slight snoring. The TV turns off after some time and the room is plunged into darkness.

The family barely stirs.

Rune dreams of more times like this night, where his family acts like a family and they can all spend time together. He dreams of having Nix back in his life. He dreams of love.

Kasper dreams of a world unlike earth. He dreams of somewhere far away, somewhere safe and warm. He dreams of a place of white, with people supporting him and helping him. He dreams of hope.

Hannah dreams of the times when her sons were young and the only things she had to worry about was them getting a little scratch from playing in the trees at the park. She dreams of the future she prayed to have with both her sons. She dreams of faith.

Chester dreams of a world in which he has his sons to help him when he gets old. He dreams of a time in which he'll never have to go to the cemetery alone to lay flowers. He dreams of a time when things are peaceful. Chester dreams of harmony.

Each members dreams of something that causes a smile to appear on their lips. They sleep soundly, enjoying their dreams.

A flash of white and feather are left behind when the sun starts to rise. The feather drifts away, disappearing through a crack in the floor and floating away in the breeze.

Morning comes fresh and beautiful, happiness sings loudly in the families hearts as caterpillars turn into butterflies and new life is born.

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Hey everyone, sorry for this boring chapter. It's mainly just a filler 😂 hope you all have a good day. Thanks for reading~

Bye bye 👋

- E